Kent Bailey
Christians, both individually and collectively, involves a constant form of conflict. When Christ began his earthly ministry of preparation for his kingdom, his church he entered the arena of battle with Satan. There was no “let up.” He fought as a gallant warrior during this period of preparation. As we carefully study the gospel records of his life such gives evidence of such (1 John 3:8).
It was also the case that when the church of the Lord came into existence on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ that those first century Christians immediately entered into full battle mode. Satan had it in his mind to destroy the work of Christ. Because the New Testament church was purchased by the blood of Christ, such is crucial to our salvation. Bringing about the destruction of the church would thus thwart the very purpose of its existence in making known the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:8-10).
That which was true in the first century is also true today. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation of the lost (Romans 1:16). Such is the revealed system of God’s eternal scheme to make sinners righteous through the blood of Christ (Romans 1:17). Satan uses the agency of various sources to attempt to thwart the power of God today in bringing lost people to that of salvation in Christ: He uses various systems of unbelief such as Atheism, Agnosticism, Modernism, and Post-Modernism. He uses various forms of false religion such as Roman Catholicism, Protestant Denominationalism, and Cult-ism. He also uses the passionate fleshly desires of uncontrolled lusts to keep the message of salvation from the masses (Galatians 5:19-21).
Various forms of apostasy and heresy within the New Testament church also gives Satan the opportunity to thwart God’s plan in the lives of humanity. The truth of God is ordered after a divine pattern that has been once and for all time revealed in the New Testament (2 Timothy 3:15-17). When one abandons such, they are turning away from Christ and truth. The recognition of New Testament authority is therefore paramount in standing for that which is right.
As Christians we must therefore stand (Ephesians 6:14). We must stand for the truth of God, on the truth of God, in the truth of God (John 8:28-36). By doing so one will be made free indeed from the power of sin, the contaminating results of sin, and the control of sin. The word of God constitutes the truth the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (John 17:17).
There is therefore an obligation to accept and obey the conditions of truth in submitting to the gospel in becoming a Christian (Acts 2:38-47). There is also an obligation to continue in the truth of God by walking in the light of such truth John 1:3-10).
As Christians we must recognize the source of the strength of truth (Ephesians 6:10-11). Note that Paul writes that we are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. There is therefore both a power and strength for Christians that is beyond what they can provide. (Ephesians 1:19; 3:16-21; Colossians 1:9-12). This divine strength is available through the everlasting gospel of Christ and is activated when we on an individual basis apply such to our own personal lives. This spiritual strength comes from the armor of God. God makes provision for this armor and we must clothe ourselves with such.
There is a specific need for such spiritual strength (Ephesians 6:11-13). The reason that this specific need exists is because of the wiles of the Devil. The term “wiles” speaks with reference to cunning arts, deceit, craftiness and or trickery. We must never allow ourselves to be ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). Satan will take every opportunity to make use of such to his fullest extent (2 Corinthians 4:1-4; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Ephesians 2:1-3. Only with God’s help of the divine revelation of his inspired word can we defeat our wicked enemy (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3).
Not only do we battle against the person of Satan; we also are engaged in a battle of a vast array of opponents under the command of Satan. While demon possession was phased out by the end of the apostolic age, nonetheless, the agents of Satan still act in accordance with false doctrines and unauthorized practices (1 Timothy 4:1-3).
There is a spiritual nature to the strength that God provides (Ephesians 6:14-20). As Christians we are not at liberty to pick and choose the implements of battle. If we are to stand against the wiles of the Devil and if we are to stand for truth and fight bravely withstanding against evil we must make usage of the entire armor that God has provided for us. Every element that Paul describes is essential to our becoming strong to fight the good fight of the faith (1 Timothy 6:12. Such involves:
- Truth that serves as a spiritual belt (John 8:32; Hebrews 12:1).
- Righteousness which serves as a breastplate (Philippians 3:9).
- The gospel of peace which is the power of God (Romans 1:16).
- Personal faith—our protective shield which emanates from the word of God (Romans 10:17).
- Salvation in Christ, which serves as our spiritual helmet (1 Thessalonians 5:8).
- The word of God—the sword of the Spirit, which is truly a weapon that we may use in going on the offense of valiant attack (Hebrews 4:12).
- Prayer, the means by which we remain watchful (Matthew 26:41).
May we see the need for that of perseverance where we never ever give up; but rather diligently pray for all the faithful brethren in Christ.
Bulletin articles for Sunday, February 24, 2019, Northside Anchor, Ron Hall, editor
